East Hampshire

East Hampshire's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in average age, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of East Hampshire increased by 5.8%, from just over 109,000 to 116,000.

The addition of about 6,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, East Hampshire was home to, on average, 1.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older East Hampshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of East Hampshire increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This affluent rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 13% of people in East Hampshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and East Hampshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in East Hampshire that rented privately increased from 8.6% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire households that owned their home decreased from 77% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. But despite the improvement, East Hampshire remained less healthy than the regional average 16% in the South East described their health as good in 2011).

Private renting in East Hampshire increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in East Hampshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in East Hampshire

The percentage of East Hampshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.2% to 7.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in East Hampshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in East Hampshire decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in East Hampshire, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of East Hampshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.0% to 3.7% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of East Hampshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in East Hampshire decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in East Hampshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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